Evaluating quality of life in different groups of patients

This study was a controlled clinical trial aimed to asses how loss tooth affect oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) comparing two groups of patients: removable denture patients and non removable denture patients classified by Eichner index using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP).

Methods:

The Oral Health Impact Profile OHIP-14 (for non removable denture patients) and OHIP-20 (for removable denture patients) was used to asses subjects’ quality of life. Responses for each item are on a 5-point Likert scale (0 = ‘‘never’’ to 4 = ‘‘very often’’). All responses were summed to produced an overall OHIP score that could range from 0 to 56 (OHIP-14) or from 0 to 80 (OHIP-20), with high scores indicating poorer oral health-related quality of life.

Subjects were grouped into 3 groups by posterior occlusal contacts according to the Eichner Index. Group A: occlusal contacts in all four posterior support zones, group B: occlusal contacts in three to one zone(s) of contact or in the anterior region only, and group C: no occlusal contact at all.

Results:

The mean OHIP-14 score for group A was 8,86 (with 16 points highest score), for group B 20,62 (with 43 points highest score) and for group C was 17,50 (with 36 points highest score).

The average OHIP-20 score for group B was 17,67 (with 33 points highest score)  and for group C was 50,22 (with 80 points highest score).  

We observed higher scores therefore poorer oral heath-related quality of life in C group- removable denture patients 

Conclusions:

Loss of occlusal contacts contributed to a poorer OHRQoL, even if the tooth/teeth were replaced by removable prostheses.

The use of conventional removable dentures brings negative impacts in the OHRQoL of  patients which may have influenced the self-perceived discomfort with the prostheses.